Let's Make Some Art, Dammit

December 31, 2015. We went from store to store in search of 4mm machine bolts (for the televsion stand) and finally found one here, at the Lowe's in Orleans. I toopk the opportunity to take a Kubrik-esque photo of the lighting aisle. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1UkEHUf

December 30, 2015. The cats' characters have all changed a bit since we moved and since we lost Bart. Polly has become less active, more skittish. But she also lives on this stool or the counter just behind it, always within a couple feet of Andrea. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1mV89pl

December 31, 2015. We went from store to store in search of 4mm machine bolts (for the televsion stand) and finally found one here, at the Lowe's in Orleans. I toopk the opportunity to take a Kubrik-esque photo of the lighting aisle. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1UkEHUf

December 30, 2015. The cats' characters have all changed a bit since we moved and since we lost Bart. Polly has become less active, more skittish. But she also lives on this stool or the counter just behind it, always within a couple feet of Andrea. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1mV89pl

December 29, 2015. After several days of serious relaxation, I got to work today. Andrea had painted the office walls, then I went to work converting a pile of boxes and stuff into a workable office. It's still in a very primitive form, but it's almost ready to move into and start getting stuff done. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1Pw2p0d

December 28, 2015. With the right framing, anything can look good. This is basically a ditch between two parking lots, the Costco on one side (where we restocked before the coming storm) and a furniture stor on the other. There are some nice bridges over it, but I couldn't get them into the picture without also including the parking lot or highway. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1ICBuia

December 27, 2015. We got the first real trace of winter today, a soating of ice and snow that left every surface white. It was over by the end of the day, ending in a multicoloured sky highlighting our garden sheds. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1ToDMBL

December 26, 2015. We went to see Star Wars today. It was exactly what I expected it to be (that's not praise). This is what the house looks like when we arrive home at night. I do love the lights. Next year I will put up Chistmas lights with a bit more expertise. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1NIRmP5

December 25, 2015. We had a quiet morning, then went for Christmas dinner at the Lac Leamy Casino with my mother and Bernie, my aunt Marilyn, Effice, and a bunch of other people (sorry, I still don't know everyone). We had to wait a couple hours for a table for eleven, but it was an excellent mean, no dishes to wash, and then to my astonishment I won $60 on the roulette wheel. It was one of the more enjoyable Christmases I've had in some time. Oh, and the barbershop singers were great. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1U9h68K

December 23, 2015. I got the lights uo, then we went to see James Bond today, which I thought was better than the critics allowed (they wanted to see a cartoon like Iron Man but what they got was a good taut spy thriller in the best tradition of Bond). After we stopped at the Loblaws on Blair Road to pick up vanilla beans and I marveled at the size and abundance in the store. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1YE9ixd

December 22, 2015. An Ontario classic farmhouse. I drove down the St-Albert Road after getting my snow tires put on. I was looking for a good phboto with the fog. You can still see the fog but the star of the photo is this beautiful old farmhouse. We did a Costco run and I put my newsletter on Facebook, and that was my day for the day. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1mzdHFE

December 21, 2015. Our local grocery store in Casselman. I stopped by to pick up fish and veggies after my eye exam. I didn't want to go too far because I still have summer tires on (appointment is tomorrow). And my pupils are all dilated so everything seems bright and fuzzy. Grey dull day today but in this light even a grocery store can look like a bright new monument. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1U3ADr3

December 20, 2015. This place never disappoints. It was a quick stop for a coffee and a photo on the way home from Riviere du Loup today. The truckload of rocks and tires has been safely delivered and I am home watching episodes of Fargo and puttering on the computer. I love love love the shades of blue in this photo. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1O2hXry

December 19, 2015. You can't see a lot at the moment, but the inside of the front porch is gutted and all the wiring is being replaced. It will look very different next time. After numerous emails and calls, I'm still waiting for a reply from Moncton organizers (City Council, MAGMA) to my offer to house Syrian refugees in it - I guess I'm not 'pure New Brunswick' enough to be allowed into the plan. This whole business of freezing out outsiders is exactly why I moved. The truck is a rental, I'm hauling my winter tires, about half a ton of decorative rocks, and a bunch of other heavy things I wasn't willing to pay movers to move. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1O0lgj8

December 18, 2015. In Moncton for the day for a half dozen meetings, to pick uo ricks and tires, and to inspect th renovations on the house. This is Jones Lake, just slightly frozen in the chill air and shrouded by a typical Maritime fog. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1O0k5jF

December 17, 2015. I woke up this morning in the Universal Hotel in Riviere du Loup, and looked outside and saw this. Not the sculpture, which I like, but the snow, which I don't. The roads were like skating rinks. No fun to drive. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1Oaepzg

December 16, 2015. Back on the highway, this time in a rented truck, as I drive to Moncton to retrieve tires and rocks and various other heavy items I was too cheap to pay movers to move. I also need to inspect the renovations on the Moncton house and pay the contractors more money. Anyhow, this is a very typical highway scene; it fascinates me, I think it's beautiful, and that's why I'm sharing a photo. This is somewhere off the highway between Quebec City and Montreal. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1OaerqW

December 15, 2015. I suppose it was inevitable that my days would start with a visit to Tim Hortons on my morning commute. Even when I was dirt poor, I would take some of the $5 or $8 per day that I had to live on and buy a morning coffee from a coffee shop. It was my one luxury. I still think of it as a luxury, the treat I give myself. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1Oaepze

December 14, 2015. This is the railway bridge at Casselman, taken just after I picked up the new plates and registraton for the car. It was only 3:30 but already dimming. This railway runs fairly close to my house - you might wonder why I would choose to live near the tracks, but I like trains and the echo of the train whistle evokes images of camping and wilderness for me. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1lLSlou

December 14, 2015. This is the railway bridge at Casselman, taken just after I picked up the new plates and registraton for the car. It was only 3:30 but already dimming. This railway runs fairly close to my house - you might wonder why I would choose to live near the tracks, but I like trains and the echo of the train whistle evokes images of camping and wilderness for me. From Flickr http://ift.tt/1lLSlou